Anyone who wants to hunt ring-necked pheasants, ruffed grouse, and migratory game birds (ducks, geese, woodcock, and Wilson or common snipe) in Nova Scotia. To hunt migratory birds, you MUST also have a Federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit which can be obtained online at: https://www.ec.gc.ca/rcom-mbhr/default.asp?lang=En&n=182D8E96-1 or at your local post office.

Non-residents also need a Small Game Licence to hunt or snare rabbits (Snowshoe
Hare).

Note: A Small Game Hunting Licence
is not required to shoot pheasants on a licensed pheasant shooting preserve.
However, a Small Game Hunting Licence is required to shoot other small
game on a preserve.

Age Requirements: You have to be 18 years of age or older. [However, persons 16 or 17 can get a licence through a parent or guardian]. If under 18 the person must be accompanied, while hunting, by someone 18 years or older who is certified under Hunter Education, Safety and Training regulations to hunt with the applicable weapon.

No application form is needed . A licence can be purchased
from the nearest Local
or Area Office of the N.S. Department of Natural Resources as well
as authorized vendors.

The applicant must be 18 years of age or older. (However, persons 12 to 18 can get a licence through a parent or guardian who has an appropriate Hunting Certificate and they must be accompanied by someone 18 years or older who is certified under Hunter Education, Safety and Training regulations to hunt with the applicable weapon.

You have to have a valid Wildlife Resources Card and be certified for the weapon with which you
will be hunting. (If you
are a non-resident, you have to have whatever is the equivalent in
your own province or state.)

If you are going to hunt ducks, geese, woodcock,
Wilson or common snipe, in addition to your N.S. Small Game Hunting
Stamp, you will also have
to have a (Canadian) Federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit.
This can be obtained at any Office of Canada Post.

If you are carrying a gun in any wildlife habitat in Nova Scotia,
you may also be asked to produce one of the following:

1. You must always obey local (municipal) regulations regarding the discharge of firearms within town limits.

2.
A base license is required to snare rabbits. Even if you are under 18.

3. There are some wild animals that you can hunt without a Small Game hunting stamp, but YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BASE LICENCE [Wildlife Habitat
Stamp]! These animals are listed below:
(A) The following can be hunted with a Base Licence (only), but
only during their open season :

(a) Bullfrog:

July 15 to September 30

(b) Crow:

September 1 to March 31

(c) Coyote:

January 1 to December 31

(d) Rabbit
(Snowshoe Hare:
[non-residents need a Small Game Licence, see above
]

November 15 February 15

(e) Red Squirrel:

November 1 to to the last day of
February

(B) For the purpose of preventing
damage to their property, the owner/occupier of a property (or their agent)
can hunt any of the following wildlife with a Base Licence (only) at
any time of year : Mice, Rat, Porcupine, Red Squirrel, Chipmunk,
Skunk, Crow, Starling, Vole, Mole, Shrew, Woodchuck (Groundhog), Rock
Dove (Common Pigeon), and English Sparrow (locally known as a "House
Sparrow").

4. Some wildlife can never be hunted - for example, eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, osprey, and many others.
[The only wildlife which can
be legally hunted or trapped in Nova Scotia are those species listed
in the Licensing Booklet; all other species of birds and animals are
protected by law at all times.]
If you see anyone hunting protected wildlife, please report the incident
to a local or area office
of the N.S. Department of Natural Resources.